Description
On a moving search coil, audio delay is position error. Swing at a normal pace with standard Bluetooth headphones and a 100 millisecond lag makes a target read as two marks either side of where it really lies. The Minelab WM 08 Wireless Audio Module cuts that delay to 17 milliseconds over Minelab's Wi-Stream link, which is why it remains the fastest wireless audio an Equinox 600 or 800 can run, and it works with any wired 3.5 mm (1/8 in) headphones you already own.
At a glance: The Minelab WM 08 Wireless Audio Module (part 3011-0371) receives Wi-Stream wireless audio from the Equinox 600 and Equinox 800 with a 17 ms delay, far faster than Bluetooth. Clip it on, plug in any wired 3.5 mm (1/8 in) headphones, and detect cable-free. Includes the magnetic USB charging cable. Not compatible with Equinox 700/900.
Why pay for a module when the Equinox already has Bluetooth?
Because latency is the spec that matters, and Minelab publishes the numbers in the Equinox manual: standard Bluetooth runs about 100 ms behind the coil, aptX Low Latency headphones such as the ML 80 cut that to about 40 ms, and the WM 08's Wi-Stream link runs at 17 ms, a delay Minelab describes as not perceivable. Minelab's own advice: for the fastest possible wireless audio, use the WM 08. It has no speaker of its own; it feeds whatever headphones you plug into it, including full-size 6.35 mm (1/4 in) sets through the 1/8 in to 1/4 in adaptor cable (part 3011-0369) and the threaded Minelab waterproof headphones connector.
Who actually needs one
An honest note before you buy: the Equinox 800 shipped with a WM 08 in the box; the Equinox 600 did not. So this listing is for Equinox 600 owners adding the fastest wireless option, and for Equinox 800 owners replacing a module that is lost, damaged, or staying paired to a second machine. If you hunt an Equinox 700, Equinox 900, Manticore or X-Terra, this is not your module: those detectors use the newer WM 09 Wireless Audio Module instead.
Wireless audio options on the Equinox 600/800, side by side
| Audio path | Delay (Minelab figures) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| WM 08 + your wired headphones | 17 ms (Wi-Stream) | Fastest wireless option; not perceivable in the swing |
| ML 80 / aptX Low Latency headphones | about 40 ms | Faster than standard Bluetooth |
| Standard Bluetooth headphones | about 100 ms | Targets appear offset from their true position at speed |
Specifications
| Part number | 3011-0371 (UPC 811493016740) |
| Compatibility | Minelab Equinox 600 and Equinox 800 only. Not compatible with Equinox 700/900 (they use the WM 09); the Equinox is also not compatible with the older WM 10 and WM 12 modules |
| Wireless | Minelab Wi-Stream, 17 ms audio delay |
| Headphone socket | 3.5 mm (1/8 in), threaded; accepts the Minelab waterproof headphones connector and the 1/4 in adaptor cable (part 3011-0369) |
| Water rating | Water resistant only; not designed for use underwater |
| Attachment | Wire clip; Minelab recommends wearing it on the same side of your body as the detector |
| In the box | WM 08 module and USB charging cable with magnetic connector |
Frequently asked questions
Does the WM 08 work with the Equinox 700 or 900? No. It covers the Equinox 600 and 800 only; the 700/900 generation uses the WM 09 module.
Do I need headphones with it? Yes. The WM 08 has no speaker; plug in any wired 3.5 mm (1/8 in) headphones, or the ML 80 via its auxiliary cable.
Can I take it in the water? No. The module is water resistant only. For underwater hunts, plug Minelab waterproof headphones directly into the detector, which is submersible to 3 m (10 ft).
History Seekers is a small American business and an authorized Minelab dealer. Everyone here detects, top down, for gold, relics, coins and jewelry, and prior field experience is a hiring requirement, not a coincidence. The person answering your pairing question may be the one packing your order for the UPS drop-off. We quote latency numbers from the Minelab manual because accuracy in the swing is the whole point, and because the story is more important than the artifact.